Fender Strat bodies. MIM, USA, ?

[thiswaythatway]

I'm getting inspiration from some of you with your Strat builds. I see some guy on Ebay called Stratosphere who seems to have Fender parts growing off trees. Anyway after looking at parts are the USA and MIM bodies made at the same source and just sent out to wherever a guitar is placed together? Most of the MIM guitars seem decent as far as the body goes, it's usually the neck that turn me off. And the price between them is substantial. Just wonder if there's any drop off between the USA and Mexican bodies. Yes yes, I know the Mexican one's usually have a bigger bottom end right!

 

[boost]

Bodies and necks made in Corona and sent down to Mexico for assembly. Not sure if the quality of the base woods are any different though.

For the record I prefer the bigger bottom ends of Mexican bodies.

 

[thiswaythatway]

USA bodies tend to be two pieces. The mim and squiers are 3

That's right. I even noticed that the USA American Specials are 3 piece, but the American Standard is 2.

 

[rupe]

It's a crap shoot. I've used both for my builds with both great and not so great results. It simply depends on the particular body/neck no matter where they came from. One of my best Strat bodies came from Korea of all places...it rang like a bell, until I dropped it and cracked the wood (once reglued, it just didn't resonate the same anymore).

I've had the best results with Warmoth and Musikraft parts FWIW, but they're a bit more expensive.

Here are a few of my builds:

Musikraft

Warmoth neck, "mystery" body

NOS Dimarzio parts

Warmoth

 

[SFW]

I have noticed that you run a greater chance of getting a dead body with an MIM. Granted, I've come across some nice ones, but the US ones tend to be more consistent.

 

[glassjaw7]

Danyeo, we think way too much alike. I'm currently following a couple MIM loaded body auctions from that same seller. Been itching to put this old neck to use.

Sorry can't help out with your question, but to me the big difference for strats has always been electronics and necks. I'd say a MIM body would be just fine.

 

[mixn4him]

The neck pocket is tighter on the MIA bodies, there is some extra routing on the MIM bodies. I have/had 2 60's classic and classic players and it is there, not so on the MIA bodies...that joining of the neck and body can really make/break a good sounding guitar...

 

[OUTLAW1969]

Danyeo, we think way too much alike. I'm currently following a couple MIM loaded body auctions from that same seller.

Well, that makes three of us

I have a couple of necks that I am looking for bodies for, too.

I was thinking that the older 50's and 60's RI bodies might have been "hand selected" better, for their intended use by the custom shop guys. But ultimately, I have no idea if that holds true, or not.

I have a partscaster that has a maple neck and a Mary Kay painted mahogany body, that is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever owned. I do not know if it is the mahogany body, the tight pairing of neck / body, or just luck....but it seems to resonate forever.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Danyeo, we think way too much alike. I'm currently following a couple MIM loaded body auctions from that same seller. Been itching to put this old neck to use.

Sorry can't help out with your question, but to me the big difference for strats has always been electronics and necks. I'd say a MIM body would be just fine.

I actually just picked up an American Standard the other day. The neck is dead straight and it was just over 1k new out the door. White pickguard and HSS pickup config. Just had to tweak it a little but I like it a lot. I mean, I'd love to go blow 3k on a new Anderson but I'm not sure I want to drop that kind of dough because honestly, the Fender's are more than good enough for me at this point.

But I want to get another another in a different finish and maybe just 2 Humbuckers. Who knows, I may scope out a Warmoth neck because I don't see a neck with specs I'd like to try. Maple neck and board, 1 5/8th nut, BIG frets 6100's, Wolfgang shape or even slimer, and maybe...just maybe 24 3/4 scale.

 

[Chris6870]

I just bought one of those Fender licensed necks Stratophere sells for a beater Stat with Floyd project I'm building. Anyone try one of those? Its the compound radius model.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/190744361768?ss ... 1439.l2649

 

[Anonymous]

I got a spare neck and just bought a loaded Classic Vibe body from Stratosphere
These guys just get brand new guitars (probably b-stock), disassemble them and sell the parts for more $ than the whole guitar

 

[jlbaxe]

Danyeo, we think way too much alike. I'm currently following a couple MIM loaded body auctions from that same seller.

Well, that makes three of us

I have a couple of necks that I am looking for bodies for, too.

I was thinking that the older 50's and 60's RI bodies might have been "hand selected" better, for their intended use by the custom shop guys. But ultimately, I have no idea if that holds true, or not.

I have a partscaster that has a maple neck and a Mary Kay painted mahogany body, that is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever owned. I do not know if it is the mahogany body, the tight pairing of neck / body, or just luck....but it seems to resonate forever.

4 of us but Im looking at Teles

 

[glassjaw7]

Danyeo, we think way too much alike. I'm currently following a couple MIM loaded body auctions from that same seller. Been itching to put this old neck to use.

Sorry can't help out with your question, but to me the big difference for strats has always been electronics and necks. I'd say a MIM body would be just fine.

I
I actually just picked up an American Standard the other day. The neck is dead straight and it was just over 1k new out the door. White pickguard and HSS pickup config. Just had to tweak it a little but I like it a lot. I mean, I'd love to go blow 3k on a new Anderson but I'm not sure I want to drop that kind of dough because honestly, the Fender's are more than good enough for me at this point.

But I want to get another another in a different finish and maybe just 2 Humbuckers. Who knows, I may scope out a Warmoth neck because I don't see a neck with specs I'd like to try. Maple neck and board, 1 5/8th nut, BIG frets 6100's, Wolfgang shape or even slimer, and maybe...just maybe 24 3/4 scale.

Ooh, Gibby scale strat would be fun. Congrats on the american standard! I really liked the ones I've played.

 

[Zap]

Fender bodies that are made in America can be either two or three pieces. Typically, they use the nicer looking wood for transparent finishes, because why bother if it's just going to get covered up in an impenetrable shell? The Eric Johnson Strat is always two pieces. I think Mexican bodies range from three to four pieces. Probably stating the obvious, but the more money spent, the less chance you have of assembling a dud.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Danyeo, we think way too much alike. I'm currently following a couple MIM loaded body auctions from that same seller. Been itching to put this old neck to use.

Sorry can't help out with your question, but to me the big difference for strats has always been electronics and necks. I'd say a MIM body would be just fine.

I
I actually just picked up an American Standard the other day. The neck is dead straight and it was just over 1k new out the door. White pickguard and HSS pickup config. Just had to tweak it a little but I like it a lot. I mean, I'd love to go blow 3k on a new Anderson but I'm not sure I want to drop that kind of dough because honestly, the Fender's are more than good enough for me at this point.

But I want to get another another in a different finish and maybe just 2 Humbuckers. Who knows, I may scope out a Warmoth neck because I don't see a neck with specs I'd like to try. Maple neck and board, 1 5/8th nut, BIG frets 6100's, Wolfgang shape or even slimer, and maybe...just maybe 24 3/4 scale.

Ooh, Gibby scale strat would be fun. Congrats on the american standard! I really liked the ones I've played.

Of course I walk into a Guitar Center yesterday and try one of those new Ernie Ball Lukes with tobacco finish and Rosewood neck and covered Dimarzio Pups. It felt PERFECT, I love the damm neck on that thing. AGH... $1800 though.

 

[Zap]

If you're looking for a two-piece lacquer-finished body, go for an Eric Johnson one from a maple model. They're cherry-picked for low weight. The rosewood ones seem to be heavier. I'm not sure if it's because of the binding and/or the rosewood board being more dense. My entire maple model weighs 7 lbs. on the dot.